The Penn's Grove record., 1887-06-25

planned to her in a few words the OBJ
ject of my visit.
II am uncertain whether poor papa
had a valise of that description when
he left this morning." she said; shut
possibly you may recognize him from
the photograph" submitting one she
took from the table for my inspection.
! experienced a strange sense Of re-
lief-the features in the photo were
those of a person bearing no resem-
blance whatever to the individual who
had left his bag in my charge.
The young lady thanked me heartily
for the trouble l had taken in the mat.
ter; and l left the house Of mourning
and returned to the barracks in a very
mystiled state Of mind.
"C0uld the owner OF the bag be the
thief who was caught IN the act of
p%lundering the dead mans clothesp" |
asked myself, but Immediately dis
missed the idea from my mind, as being
absurd and improbable.
Next day l attended the orderly
room, and received a severe admoni-
ton from the commanding officer.
Fortunately for me, as it happened,
Sir Clrnaby had been In plain clothes,
so my offense in the eye OF martial law
was of a comparatively venial charac-
ter. Immediately afterwards / con-
sidered it my duty to report the cir
cumstances attending the valise to the
adjutant, who in turn communicated
with the police authorities at Scotland
Yard; and that evening, pursuant to
instructions received, l had the bag
conveyed to that establishment. After.
l had explained how it was placed IN
my charge, it was opened IN my pres
ence by an official, and was found to
contain just a suit of clothes and a few
newspapers, but no documents Of any
kind, as stated by Its owner.
After this the bag ceased to interest
me, as the valueless character of Its
contents caused me to speculate less on
the unaceountable conduct of its pos
sersor in never returning for it. l may
mention that | read IN account in the
evening paper regarding the alleged
thief who had been apprehen1 led on the
Serpentine Bank under the circum-
stances before alluded to. By the
name of Judd he had been taken before
a magistrate and remanded for a week,
in order that inquiries might be made
concerning him.
Some time afterwards l.. was on
Queens guard, Westminster. 1 had
just mounted my horse and taken up
position in one OF the two boxes facing
Parliament street, when a gentleman
stopped opposite me and scanned me
curiously. Addressing, me, he said:
Don't you remember mep"
"'There was no mistak1ng the voice;
it was that of the owner of the bagl
Otherwise, he was greatly altered, as
he had denuded himself of the luxu-
RANT whiskers and mustache which he
wore when | saw him previously.
''What has been wrongP" l asked.
"Oh, L was seized with a ft that
morning when | came cut Of the water,
and was taken home in ali unconscious
state. l have been very unwell ever
SINCE, and have left my house for the
first time to-day. | made inquiries at
the barracks about YOU; and as the SOL
der l spoke to seemed to know about
the bag L left with you, he directed me
here"
swell sir" 1 said, 81 hal quite
made up my mind that you were the
gentleman who was drowned that
morning; and when | discovered my
mistake, | am almost ashamed to own
that l took you for the man who was
apprehended on the charge of trying to
plumber the drowned mans clothes"
The gentleman smiled pleasantly and
said: "Ahl 1 read about that. And
now to business. | wish to get my
bag at once. l presume you have it
in safe.keeping at the barracksP"
"It's much nearer at hand" l re.
plied-'just across the street from
here;" and then l told him that it was
in the custody of the police authorities
at Scotland Yard.
This information apparently discon-
certed him.
at is very awkward indeed" he
said. Il have to catch the six train
steamer that leaves tomorrow morning
for New York. Couldn't you come
across with me to get it?"
'You forget that l an on sentry,nI
replied, 81 won't be relieved until
four; and eve then 1 oaren't leave the
guard; nor would l care to ask permits
sion to do 80. You should go at once
to the Captain of the guard and repre-
sent the case to him; and perhaps, I'M
der the circumstances, he will permit
me to accompany you"
Acting on my advice, he proceeded
at once to the officer in command,
leaving me extremely amused at the
fuss lie was making about his bag, con-
sideling all that it was worth.
Soon afterward he returned with a
smiling face, and informed me that the
Captain had acceeded to his request. l
expressed my qualification at this in
telligence. and added: 'Surely, sir, you
have been shaving since | last saw
your"
"Yes, | was threatened with the re-
currence of a nasty skin complaint to
which | was formerly subject"
During the interval that elapsed until
nv period of duty was ended the gen.
tleInan paced about in a most impatient
manner, ever and anon seeming to re-
lieve his feeling by stopping to pat my
horse. At length | left my post, and,
dismounting, led my charger to the
stable and handed him over to q COM
rade; then, divesting myself of my cul-
rass, was ready to proceed to Scotland
Yard. One of the coTporals on guard
received OTueIS W accompany ue, 50,
together with the gentleman, we
started, and crossing the street reached
the police headquarters in a minute or
two, and on making Inquiries were
directed to the "Lost Property" depart
ment. We stated u business; and an
official, after receiving an assurance
from me that the applicant was the
right person. speedily produced the
vallse. "Why didn't you see about
this before?" he asked, addressing the
gentleman.
,,Beeause | was too III to see about
%anything,' was the reply.
The gentleman then signed a book,
certifying that his property had been
restored to HIM. giving as he did so the
name of Nohbs.
Having tasnked the official, Mr..
hobbs caught up his property, aud we
left the office. When we got to the